Psalms for Your Wedding - Gareth Leyshon: Home …

1 Psalms for your Wedding The Psalms are Bible texts which were originally written as songs, and are meant to be used as such during services. They are called responsorial Psalms because they are a sung response to the Word of God, reflecting something of the Bible Reading which has just been proclaimed. Normally the cantor sings the verses, and then leads the whole assembly in singing the response line; but other possibilities include the cantor or choir singing the psalm without input from the congregation, or the whole congregation singing the psalm together. Although the sourcebook for readings shows Psalms paired with Old Testament readings, these pairings are only suggestions; any psalm can be used at this point.

2 Many settings are available for the recommended Psalms : your cantor or choir may be able to learn one from one of these sources (this is not an exhaustive list). The people s response may be a different line from the one indicated in the Lectionary; this is acceptable. 1. The Lord fills the earth with his love. (Psalm 32:12, 18, 20-21, 22). Inwood; Alternative refrain: The Earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Kirkpatrick Alternative: Happy the people you have chosen Cooney Alternative: May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you Colgan 2. Praise the name of the Lord (Psalm 148:1-4, 9-14).

3 Kirkpatrick 3. How good is the Lord to all (Psalm 144:8-10, 15, 17-18). Alternative refrain: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures Kirkpatrick 4. Is identical with option 1. 5. A: The Lord is compassion and love (Psalm 102:1-2, 8, 13, 17-18). Haugen; Lee: pdf/mp3 B: The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear 6. A: O blessed are those who fear the Lord (Psalm 127:1-5). Inwood B: Indeed thus shall be blessed, the man who fears the Lord. Alternative refrain: May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives Cooney 7. A: I will bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 33:2-9).

4 Lee: pdf/mp3 B: Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 33:2-9) Angrisano; Cortez; Haugen; Roberts; Talbot; Whitaker Alternative refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor; blessed be the Lord Foley 8. Happy the man who takes delight in the Lord s commands (Psalm 111:1-9). 9. Is identical with option 2. Some other psalm settings you might consider include: For You Are My God, Centre of my life, God, you search me, You Are Near and On Eagle s Wings. Another possibility is to use a setting of The Lord s My Shepherd. Most of your congregation will be able to sing it to the traditional tune Crimond, but you may feel this is too downbeat for a Wedding .

5 Another setting which may be quite familiar is: The King of Love my shepherd is. With a cantor, you could try Because the Lord is my shepherd which has an easy refrain for the congregation to pick up. A cantor or choir with no congregational response could use Shepherd me, O God or I will trust in you alone, or the setting known as the theme to The Vicar of Dibley. There are many other psalm settings available. Any psalm setting can be used in your Wedding as long as it uses text which is identical, or closely adapted from, the version of scripture used in Catholic worship and you have the service of a cantor or choir who can lead it competently.

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